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ROAR: “The Soviet Union wanted to stop Americans in Afghanistan”
Published: 28 December, 2009, 14:15
Edited: 30 December, 2009, 03:30
As Russia marks the 30th anniversary of the introduction of Soviet troops into Afghanistan, most observers say the decision was a huge mistake.
Sarah, you make a very interesting point about the Somalian bases. There are more points that could be made but that the author of the article had omitted. 1. No one actually knows the extent of purposeful provocation by the Americans and their friends Saudis that occurred in 1979 in Afganistan and that made the Russians go in. Moscow was about to host the first ever Russian Olympics, and the boycott of those olympics was oragnized so quickly and so well that one has to suspect a prior agreement between the parties involved. So, boycotting the Olympics was probably a goal, since it was bound to damage the country's reputation and pride to a geat extent. 2. Tying up USSR with the war that would weaken it and, again, damage its reputation was another good reason for the Americans to orchestrate a provocaiton. 3. All that being said, the Soviet governmet of the day was old and inept. If it were smarter, it wouldn't have taken the bait. I am glad that the current Russian government is very different. Keep up the good work!
Larisa The Soviet bases in Somalia were very important and strategic for the Soviet Union and remorse has it there was deep division within the upper echelons of the Soviet leadership of whether to fall for the Socialist declaration of the Ethiopian dictators or hand on to Muslim but immensely more valuable Somalia. Some in Russia believe that Soviets switched Christian Ethiopia [despite only 45% of the population is Christain] from Somalia on account of Christian Orthodox commitment. I assume, Meles Zinawi- first maoist and now outright neocon- may also wish to play that card to incur favors with the modern Russia. But one thing is clear: having military based at Barbera- which is a stone throw away from the oil fields of Saudi Arabia- would have meant that the Saudis would have thought twice in backing the U.S covert intervention in Afghanistan. I have noted that for whatever the reason Somalia has disappeared from Soviet Cold War historiography!
Hello Sergey Borisov Perhaps you have access to accurate historical archives which I have no access to but if you are correct that in 1979 the USSR invaded Afghanistan to "stop the Americans", why did the USSR forces left Somalis in 1978? Surely, given the fact the USSR had well established military bases in Somalia -both in the Indian Ocean coast and in the Red Sea port of Berbara, the Soviet had all the reasons to keep the Somalia-which ston'es throw away from the oil fields of Saudi Arabia. Rather than running away after the old and ruthless dictator ask them to leave, why wouldn’t Soviets used USSR trained military officers to overthrow Siyad Barre rather than leaving military bases-bases which the Americans quickly occupied? I think as it was with the hast departure from Somalia in 1978 that play critical role in the Soviet failure in Afghanistan. If the Soviets stayed in Somalia, the Saudis would not have been so openly work against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Any way, you are entitled to your views but the Soviets made the greatest strategic blunder not by invading Afghanistan but their decision to leave Somalia a year earlier.